There’s a lot of inspiring stuff going on in Coastal Delaware that you may not know about.
From neighbors supporting one another and students making a difference to local organizations creating lasting change, these stories are a reminder of the kindness, compassion, and community spirit that make this area so special.
Here are a few feel-good stories worth celebrating:
Volunteers Remove Over 3,800 Pounds of Trash from Delaware’s Coast
More than 1,200 volunteers came together to make Delaware’s coastline a little cleaner during the state’s 39th annual Coastal Cleanup on September 19th.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) organized the event, which brought individuals, families, and community groups to more than 45 locations, from Fenwick Island to Battery Park, to collect litter from beaches, wetlands, and waterways.
In just three hours, volunteers removed more than 3,800 pounds of trash, collecting approximately 21,000 items.
Cigarette butts, food wrappers, and bottle caps were among the most common finds, along with larger items like construction materials and even a grill.
DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson also joined volunteers at Little Creek Wildlife Area and Port Mahon, celebrating the enthusiasm of both longtime participants and those taking part for the first time.
The timing of the cleanup turned out to be especially important.
Just one week later, a nor’easter brought flooding and debris to Delaware’s beaches.
Thanks to the volunteers, thousands of pieces of litter had already been removed before the storm could carry them farther into local waterways.
While DNREC crews continued clearing debris left behind by the storm, the cleanup showed just how much of a difference a few hours of community effort can make.
The information collected during the event will also help track coastal pollution and support future cleanup efforts, making the volunteers’ work valuable long after the day was over.
And you don't have to wait for the next Coastal Cleanup to make a difference!
DNREC encourages everyone to help throughout the year by picking up litter, properly recycling, and leaving beaches and outdoor spaces as clean as they found them.
If you'd like to participate in a future cleanup, keep an eye on DNREC's Coastal Cleanup website for updates and volunteer registration information.
Image: Lavender Fields at Warrington Manor
Peace, Love & Lavender Creates a Healing Space for Grief
At Lavender Fields in Milton, Peace, Love & Lavender offers a peaceful place for people to reflect, connect, and find comfort after loss.
The nonprofit was founded by Cait Spieker-Gee after she lost her daughter, Tallulah June, in utero. As she worked through her own grief, the farm became a meaningful part of her healing and inspired her to create a space that could support others too.
Today, the property is free and open to the public, with gardens, walking trails, picnic tables, an animal sanctuary, a petting zoo, and a walking labyrinth for meditation, prayer, and reflection.
The nonprofit has also expanded its work throughout the community.
It offers a grief support walking group, a neurodivergent women’s support group, seasonal family events, children’s activities, and a pollinator sensory garden designed for visitors of different abilities.
Peace, Love & Lavender also partners with local organizations and provides vocational opportunities for Sussex Consortium students.
Future plans include expanding the sensory garden, hiring more adults with disabilities, creating an inclusive summer camp, and building a wheelchair-accessible playground.
If you’re interested in getting involved, email [email protected]. And for more information on this effort, you can visit their page on their website here
Lavender Fields is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission, giving you a quiet place to spend time in nature, remember someone you love, or simply take a break from the day.
Milton Crochet Club Turns Passion into Community Service
What started as a small group of people who simply enjoyed crocheting has grown into one of Milton's newest nonprofits.
The Milton Crochet Club meets every Monday and Tuesday morning at Milton Home Coffee Roastery, where members gather to crochet, learn new techniques, and spend time together.
The club welcomes everyone, from experienced crocheters to complete beginners who want to pick up the craft.
Since it first launched, the club has grown quickly, expanding from just a few dozen members to more than 100.
Earlier this year, it officially became a nonprofit, allowing the group to focus even more on community service.
Every item made by members is donated to support local charitable efforts, turning a relaxing hobby into something that helps others.
Along the way, the club has become just as much about friendship and connection as it is about crocheting.
With membership continuing to grow, the Milton Crochet Club plans to expand its meeting schedule so even more people can join, learn a new skill, and be part of a group that's making a difference in the community.
Image: Visit Rehoboth
SoDel Fest Gives Back With $400,000 in Donations to 17 Local Nonprofits
After a decade of bringing people together through food, wine, and music, the Southern Delaware Wine, Food and Music Festival, better known as SoDel Fest, wrapped up its final event with a generous gift to the community.
The festival celebrated its 10th and final year on May 30th at the Cambria Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, raising $400,000 for 17 local nonprofit organizations.
Organized by Creative Coastal Connections Corp., the event has supported causes that make a difference throughout Southern Delaware, including children's health, hunger relief, and arts education.
Among this year's donations, $12,000 went to Celebrate Wellness, a nonprofit that provides mental health support to hospitality workers in Delaware.
Another $2,500 was donated to the International Academy of Mind-Body Medicine.
Festival founder and organizer Stacy LaMotta reflected on the event's final year as a celebration of the food, music, and community spirit that have brought people together over the past decade.
Although SoDel Fest has officially come to an end, its final contribution will continue supporting local organizations and the people who rely on them.
It's a wonderful way to close out 10 years of celebrating Southern Delaware while giving back to the community that helped make it all possible.
Dewey Goes Pink Brings the Community Together for Breast Cancer Awareness
Hundreds of runners and walkers came together in Dewey Beach for the 15th annual Dewey Goes Pink, showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The event took place on October 3rd, with participants gathering at The Starboard before taking over Coastal Highway for the annual 5K run and walk.
But Dewey Goes Pink is about more than just crossing the finish line.
It's a chance for the community to come together, support those affected by breast cancer, and bring a little hope and positivity to a cause that touches so many lives.
The event also combines fundraising with a celebration, giving participants an opportunity to enjoy themselves while supporting an important cause.
And the community's generosity has made a real difference over the years.
Last year's event raised more than $380,000, which was donated to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition to support its work in the community.
With 15 years of bringing people together, Dewey Goes Pink continues to show just how much can happen when a community comes together for a cause that matters.
Ducklings Safely Rescued from Storm Drain by Local Firefighters
A family of ducklings is back together thanks to a quick response from the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company.
Early Sunday morning, on July 12th, firefighters were called to the Riverside Apartments in the Oak Orchard area after six ducklings fell through a stormwater grate and became trapped inside a drainage reservoir.
Wearing water rescue waders, the crew carefully accessed the culvert, opened the drain, and safely guided each duckling out.
Once the rescue was complete, the ducklings were placed near their mother, who immediately responded to their peeps and led them to a nearby body of water.
These are the simple moments that remind you just how much our local first responders care, not only for the community but also for each life they have the chance to help.
Sometimes, it’s the small or tinier stories that are mighty in their feel-good effects. And we hope this story puts a smile on our readers’ faces today.
Keep following the blog for more uplifting stories, local news, and community updates from Coastal Delaware.
Have any questions about our blog(s), the Coastal Delaware real estate market, or local life in our beautiful beach towns? Do you think there is something we should write about? Did you see an event coming up that we should know about? Shoot us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at (302) 212-0074. We would love to hear from you!
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